Buying/Renting property in London: Where would you live?

Just wondering what it's like really, living there? been for drinks but not extended time there.
Some people won't stop blabbing on that brixton is rough and bad and what... but i had the perception it's not so bad now, with loads of nice bars/cafes/restaurats and is a 'cool' cringe place to live?
Thanks chap.
Also what are the boarders of where is okay to live around brixton, i'm under the impression; don't go north of brixton tube as it's bad, but unsure otherwise.

I moved to London 7 years ago and never thought I'd live in the 'ton. I was pretty scared of the place, but then I am a girl. It's had a lot of bad press. Some of it warranted, some not so much, in my opinion. We love where we live. We're just off Brixton Hill, so south of the station and i'd say that's the best bit. Personally, I wouldn't go north of the station and I'd avoid Loughborough Jctn. I work just along Brixton Rd (north of the station) and it's certainly rougher down that end.
The beauty of where we are is that we're really close to the 'nice' places in Clapham, but also the gritty streets of Brixton. I love it here and unless we moved out of London, can't really see us living anywhere else. I'm pretty proud that I overcame my own opinions of the place! There are 3 cinemas within spitting distance - Clapham picturehouse, Brixton Ritzy and Streatham Odeon. Streatham has an ice rink too, with it's very own disco most nights woohoo!!! Not that we've ever been...
2 bed flats go for about £270K, but you need to watch out for the postcodes!!! The next road along to us is in SW4 and they are exactly the same properties but are more than £50K more! Stick to SW2 postcode searches.
Travel links are good, if you can't be arsed to ride one day.
Hope that helps.